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UPLOAD: SEASON THREE Starring: Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Allegra Edwards, Zainab Johnson, Kevin Bigley, Owen Daniels, Mackenzie Cardwell, Kristine Cofsky, Jeanine Mason, and Andrea Rosen Creator: Greg Daniels NICK Although Upload stalled a little in its second season, I had hoped it was just a sophomore slump. Season Three, while it makes renewed effort to advance the story, is too convoluted for its own good. There are interesting ideas introduced, but they lacked the execution necessary to maintain my intrigue. Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, and Allegra Edwards continue to play these characters well, but the scripts they work with are missing the key component that made Season One so good, comedy. The cliffhanger ending suggests there’s another season to come, but if you ask me, Upload has already overstayed its welcome.

THE RECRUIT: SEASON TWO Starring: Noah Centineo, Teo Yoo, Colton Dunn, Aarti Mann, Fivel Stewart, Kristian Bruun, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Kaylah Zander, Maddie Hasson, Angel Parker, James Purefoy, and Nathan Fillion Creator: Alexi Hawley QUENTIN In its second season, Netflix’s The Recruit delivers a more confident and streamlined story, mostly due to reducing the episode count from eight to six. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still goofily light-hearted — carried squarely on Noah Centineo’s charming, Mark Ruffalo-resembling shoulders — but where most spy shows tend to fall down the rabbit hole of being so gritty that they come off as self-important, The Recruit ’s self-aware silliness is fun and refreshing. Sure, it might be breezy and slightly hollow compared to contemporaries like The Night Agent , Jack Ryan , and The Agency , but who said espionage needs to be taken so seriously? Check out our reviews for Season Two HERE .

GRISELDA Starring: Sofía Vergara, Alberto Guerra, Christian Tappán, Martín Rodríguez, and Juliana Aidén Martinez Creators: Carlo Bernard, Ingrid Escajeda, Doug Miro, and Eric Newman QUENTIN “The only man I was ever afraid of was…Griselda Blanco." - Pablo Escobar When you lead with that quote, an expectation of pure evil is set. Sadly, Griselda rarely paints Blanco, played terrifically by Sofía Vergara in a performance that demonstrates her dramatic bonafides, in a light that lives up to that ideal. Sure, she engages in typical narco criminality, but Blanco is depicted more as a paranoid woman trying to succeed in a male-dominated field, not a ruthless kingpin. Plus, at only six episodes, the series is rushed, only giving surface-level insights. The typically comedic Vergara is a revelation, but as a series, Griselda is meh. PRESTON Griselda is a fictionalized miniseries based on the life of Colombian drug mafiosa, Griselda Blanco (Sofía Vergara). At first, the extremely likeable Vergara seems like the wrong casting choice, but as the series progresses, you realize it is all part of the beautifully ugly transformation that makes for a believable and relatable story that will have you intermittently wondering, “Am I rooting for her?!” Attention to detail is appreciated in the use of proper dialectical Spanish vernacular choices, but not so much with the utterly distracting makeup for Vergara. No matter, though; this is highly bingeable entertainment!

Previous Next June 21, 2023 WRITTEN BY: PAIGE After four years of waiting, the sixth season of Black Mirror is finally here, and what better way to introduce newcomers to this sci-fi anthology series than by looking back and discussing some of the best moments it has to offer. For those that haven’t seen the contemporary TheTwilight Zone -type show, this article will be the perfect primer for Charlie Brooker’s brilliant series because I will be handing out awards to several episodes. To me, these are the best places for you to dive in as a new fan. Before I do that, though, remember that each self-contained episode examines what technology can bring to the world and how it can mirror, and even magnify, the ugliest and darkest aspects of human nature. With that said, don’t be afraid to use your phones, tablets, or computers to read this article because I promise it’s worth your while. And although I hope it doesn’t bring out your darkest aspects, it will make you intrigued enough to finally give this show a watch. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Photo Credits: Netflix

LONG BRIGHT RIVER Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Nicholas Pinnock, Ashleigh Cummings, Callum Vinson, John Doman, and Dash Mihok Creators: Nikki Toscano and Liz Moore ROBERT When I started Long Bright River , I was struggling to come to terms with Amanda Seyfried as a Philadelphia cop. But once I got past the first few episodes, the show began to peel back the layers of how she ended up in her position, and how her family dynamics played into the investigation at large. Once that was unveiled, I was pleasantly surprised by my interest through to the conclusion, even with the miniseries trying its hardest to bait-and-switch me at every turn. If you stick with it, you will be glad you got on the roller coaster.

Previous Next October 23, 2023 WRITTEN BY: AMARÚ Horror fans, I’m sorry, but be prepared to hate me in 5…4…3… Horror is a stupid-ass genre. It’s stupid-ass movies with stupid-ass characters doing stupid-ass things for stupid-ass reasons. It’s the one genre I didn’t watch growing up because my father (for multiple reasons that I won’t put him on blast about) didn’t like it either. And I don’t blame him. Being scared about uninteresting things that don’t make any sense is not a form of entertainment I find enjoyable. However, occasionally, a director, writer, or group of actors do something that is legitimately smart to “elevate” what could have easily been schlock and gore just for the sake of it (funnily enough, I don’t really like the phrase “elevated [insert genre],” but here we are). I think 1996’s Scream is the first instance in which I recognized that horror can be more than just jump scares and stupidity. As the years have gone by, I have given horror movies more of a chance, and I have identified the four main reasons (let’s call them… saving graces) that would drive me to watch these spooky films. So, for any of you who are like me, I have listed those four reasons below, from least to greatest importance, as a guide to see if maybe…just maybe…you might start giving them a chance too. SAVING GRACE 1: GREAT VILLAINS & ANTAGONISTS If the main bad guy, ghost, otherworldly being, or whatever is killing everyone can make me like them (or love to hate them), then you can at least get me to watch your trailer. I might even go back and revisit your film. That’s why this grace heavily applies to horror films that I missed when I was younger. Freddy Kreuger is absolutely hilarious, Michael Myers is utterly brutal, and Pennywise is devilishly mischievous. If the film is not delivering on its story, or the characters aren’t all that intriguing, this would at least allow me to laugh or stare in awe as the killings take place. It also is one of the best ways a director can show off their craft, utilizing creative ways to feature the antagonists in their element. Think of the one-shot in David Gordon Green’s Halloween that intensified Michael’s mere presence, or how Wes Craven created larger-than-life scenarios to enhance Freddy’s showmanship. A great antagonist alone doesn’t make for a good movie, but at least it gives you a reason to push through a bad one. - Movies I liked containing this grace: Halloween (1978 and 2018), Saw , Split - Movies I watched due to this grace: Friday the 13th (1980) , A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) , Child’s Play , It (2017), Candyman (1992) SAVING GRACE 2: GREAT CASTING & PERFORMANCES If you take a great antagonist and pit them against people I can root for, now I have an even bigger reason to watch the fight of good vs. evil unfold. That, or if the lead actors give an utterly undeniable performance, I can’t justify not at least giving the movie a try. It took me a couple of years, but I finally witnessed Toni Collette’s greatness in Hereditary , and I immediately understood why people thought she was snubbed for an Oscar nomination. I also went back to check out multiple performances I was too young to care for at the time, including Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman ( American Psycho ), Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter ( The Silence of the Lambs ), and the three-headed powerhouse of the Orca’s Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss ( Jaws ). Without an ensemble you can connect to, a great villain can only take you so far, and that is often why many horror sequels are far inferior to their predecessors. While you may want to keep returning to some of your favorite horror villains, fighting through multiple bad performances may be too much of a burden for those charismatic characters to carry. - Movies I liked containing this grace: Scream 4 , The Faculty , Us , The Devil’s Advocate - Movies I watched due to this grace: Hereditary , American Psycho , It Chapter Two - Franchises ruined because of this grace: Friday the 13th , A Nightmare on Elm Street , Halloween , Saw , Child’s Play , Final Destination 4 (and ONLY Final Destination 4 ) SAVING GRACE 3: AN INTERESTING PREMISE/GREAT STORY You don’t need a star-studded cast to carry a horror film to greatness. Oftentimes, these films want the story and tone to be their major selling point, and when filmmakers can create something interesting out of their unbelievable premise, it doesn’t matter if you have a household name or newcomer in the top billing. Writer-directors Jordan Peele and (at times) M. Night Shyamalan have proven that a well-written, intelligent script with suspenseful pacing, intense scare sequences, and unpredictable yet challenging twists can make for movies that will have you thinking about them for months after you leave the theater. When I watched Get Out for the first time, I was speechless for the rest of the night. It definitely helped that its story connected to many core tenets of my culture, but that same speechlessness stayed with me after two hours of utter silence when leaving A Quiet Place . Horror films’ ridiculous plot points are probably the major reason I tend to stay away from the genre because it can make or break a film, even if you have the greatest performances in the world. To this day, I can’t stand The Sixth Sense because of how utterly BORING the film is up until that major twist. And yes, I just mentioned how great Toni Collette’s performance in Hereditary is, but when the reasons for everything that is happening are unveiled, I literally paused the credits, stared at it for five straight seconds, threw up my hands and yelled “what…. DAFUQ WAS THAT?!” It’s these “but why??” experiences that remind me why I don’t like this genre. - Movies I liked containing this grace: Knock at the Cabin , Brightburn , The Menu , Unbreakable - Movies I watched due to this grace: Happy Death Day , Escape Room - Movies ruined because of this grace: Hereditary , American Psycho , The Sixth Sense SAVING GRACE 4: MORE THAN JUST A HORROR FILM If you can combine the previous three graces seamlessly, then you have a horror film that’s going to capture my attention. For me, it just happens to be that more times than not, these horror films heavily dip into another genre to bring in aspects of movies I enjoy way more. Horror-comedies, mystery-thrillers, action-horror films are usually movies I thoroughly enjoy because the horror of it all is either in the background or is blended perfectly with the superior genre. As I mentioned in the opening, Scream, with the meta-ness of it all, introduced me to movies that can usurp its horror labels to become more than what its genre has pigeonholed them to be. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is a film I never would have considered watching if not for having to study it for a trivia match, but the entertaining mix of comedy, satire, and Alan Tudyk is another great example of horror making me a believer again. The Mummy (1999) is one of my all-time favorite movies, and you may be rolling your eyes at me right now, but there’s no denying that horror elements play a big role in that action film’s success. Whether it’s the comedy that makes Shaun of the Dead one of the best use of zombies in film, the whodunit-like thrills that Ready or Not brings along with its great cast, or the action that makes Aliens a superior sequel, if the horror film can be more than just a horror film, you have completely won me over. - Movies I like containing this grace: Zombieland , Bodies Bodies Bodies , The Cabin in the Woods , Psycho Goreman - Movies I LOVE which have all four graces: Shaun of the Dead , A Quiet Place , Get Out , Us , Nope , Final Destination , The Silence of the Lambs , Sleepy Hollow , Scream (1996) , Jaws , Army of Darkness, The Mummy (1999), Ready or Not, Aliens Photo Credits: Photo 1 - New Line Cinema; Photo 2 - A24; Photo 3, 4 - Universal Pictures

UPLOAD: THE FINAL SEASON Starring: Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Allegra Edwards, Zainab Johnson, Kevin Bigley, Josh Banday, and Owen Daniels Creator: Greg Daniels NICK Through its highs and lows, the strength of Upload was always the relationship between Nathan (Robbie Amell) and Nora (Andy Allo), and the same is true of the final season. With only four episodes, this feels more like a feature film than an entire season, and honestly it could have just been one. Even so, this is a big comeback from Season Three, as creator Greg Daniels has crafted a genuinely beautiful finale that hits on every single emotion. He brings things back to what works and abandons the convoluted nature of the previous season to end Upload on a high. Check out our reviews for Season Three HERE .

CANDY Starring: Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Pablo Schreiber, Justin Timberlake, Timothy Simons, and Raúl Esparza Creators: Nick Antosca and Robin Veith QUENTIN In what feels like the 47th true crime miniseries I’ve reviewed in the past year, Candy at least takes a somewhat different approach to the genre. Instead of getting bogged down in the minutia of the murder investigation or sensationalizing the courtroom drama, it focuses on the events leading up to the central murder. In doing so, the show becomes more about the people involved and the possible causes than the actual incident. Coming at it from that angle, not to mention being a brief five episodes, helped keep me engaged even though I’m really starting to suffer from true crime fatigue.

THE OFFER Starring: Miles Teller, Matthew Goode, Dan Fogler, Burn Gorman, Colin Hanks, Giovanni Ribisi, and Juno Temple Creator: Michael Tolkin QUENTIN Although not without its flaws, I enjoyed the hell out of The Offer . Hard to say how historically accurate it is, but it plays out like a dramatization of an Inside the Actors Studio story about one of the greatest movies ever made. As a person who loves tales about the inner machinations of Hollywood (not to mention New York’s Five Families), I was riveted by almost every aspect of this series. The acting has some highs and lows, with Matthew Goode deserving an Emmy nomination while others come off as cheap impersonations, but this is mostly a winner for fans of The Godfather .

FROM: SEASON ONE Starring: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Shaun Majumder, Scott McCord, Ricky He, Chloe Van Landschoot, Pegah Ghafoori, Corteon Moore, Hannah Cheramy, Simon Webster, Avery Konrad, Paul Zinno, and Elizabeth Moy Creator: John Griffin QUENTIN If you’re one of those people constantly on the lookout for the next Lost , this might be the show for you. It boasts the same type of supernatural, “where are we?” mystery as that groundbreaking series, but does it with a creepy horror slant (imagine if Stephen King wrote Lost ). While the acting can be so-so at parts and the characters are sometimes less than compelling simply due to how many there are, the world building is fantastic. And with a finale that promises to push the mysteries and expand the world even further next season, this very well could become the internet’s next obsession.

BODKIN: SEASON ONE Starring: Will Forte, Siobhán Cullen, Robyn Cara, David Wilmot, and Chris Walley Creator: Jez Scharf QUENTIN I don’t listen to podcasts because I need the visual component lest I completely zone out, but Bodkin does a great job of capturing the essence of a podcast in the visual medium. Its narration, quirky characters, and twist-filled mystery will keep you clicking the “watch next episode" button incessantly. It's let down a tad by the lead trio being written a little too rigidly (too buffoonish (Will Forte), too hardened (Siobhán Cullen), and too naïve (Robyn Cara)), but that doesn't take away from the super-bingeable yarn being spun in the vein of Only Murders in the Building of Inisherin.

THE RESIDENCE Starring: Uzo Aduba, Randall Park, Giancarlo Esposito, Susan Kelechi Watson, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Edwina Findley, Mel Rodriguez, Molly Griggs, Bronson Pinchot, Jason Lee, Jane Curtin, Al Franken, and Ken Marino Creator: Paul William Davies AMARÚ I’ve seen The Residence ’s playbook dozens of times: murder mystery in a high stakes location, a quirky investigator, and a multitude of colorful suspects. Give me that vibe a dozen more times too if it’s this entertaining. I want Uzo Aduba’s Cordelia Cupp to be named amongst the Benoit Blancs and Hercule Poirots. I need Heather Capps, John Daigle, Ali Greer, and Roger Nygard to understand how essential their editing was to the pitch-perfect comedic timing. I have to impart that I don’t care what flaws this show has (some bits last too long) because this is exactly, perfectly, my shit. Five reels. QUENTIN Full disclosure: given that The Residence is from Shondaland, I almost ignored it. However, I’m a sucker for movies like Knives Out and Clue , so curiosity won me over. Whatever it lacks in originality — it has all the stereotypical hallmarks of the eccentric “world’s best” detective, quirky suspects galore, red herrings, and the like — it makes up for in charm, the performance of Uzo Aduba, and her chemistry with Randall Park. It’s certainly not without its flaws, as a few of the quirks are too quirky and there are some asides that don’t add much, but this is nonetheless a winner for light-hearted murder mystery fans.